Difference Between Nationality and Heritage

Posted on December 26, 2010 by Andrew Last updated on: December 26, 2010

Nationality vs Heritage

* Heritage is something inherited at birth. It can be personal characteristics, status or a birth right, and possessions.

* National heritage is something that is passed down from preceding generations; a tradition. It can be valued objects and qualities such as historic buildings and cultural, religious traditions.

* Nationality is the status of belonging to a particular nation by origin or birth, or it is sometimes the status of belonging to an ethnic group forming a part of one or more political nations by origin or birth.

There is a marked difference between the two terms nationality and heritage. Nationality refers to the country you came from whereas heritage refers to the persons you came from. Heritage has the connotation of the word ‘lineage’. Heritage is nothing but chronological representation of your nature or birth.

Nationality gives an idea about the country you hail from. If you were born in England then you are called the English. ‘The English’ denotes the nationality. You inherit the traits of your ancestors and forefathers by nature. Inheritance is quite natural. Nationality is not natural.

Heritage depends on parents and comes naturally. Nationality means what nation you are a member of. An American by nationality can still have European ancestors. Some of the historians are of the view that even if you become a citizen of some other country and obtain the citizenship of that country by naturalization, yet your nationality remains the same. This view slightly differs in the opinion of other historians. They opine that once you obtain the citizenship of some other country by naturalization, your nationality also changes. Hence there are two views regarding nationality. If you are a scientist born in South Africa and settled in the United States of America having obtained their citizenship, then you would be called a South-Africa born American scientist.

Heritage is the procurement of traits from your ancestors and forefathers. You could get the traits from your parents too. Heritage of a country is spoken of in terms of the historical, cultural, religious and social developments made in the country. It is the heritage of the country that makes it great.